Pubdate: Wed, 21 Feb 2001 Source: Corpus Christi Caller-Times (TX) Copyright: 2001 Corpus Christi Caller-Times Address: P.O. Box 9136, Corpus Christi, TX 78469-9136 Feedback: http://www.caller.com/commcentral/email_ed.htm Website: http://www.caller.com/ Author: Bill Straub DRUG CERTIFICATION MAY END SOON WASHINGTON - The Bush administration is hinting that it will soon seek an end to the certification process that determines which nations are cooperating with the United States in the war on drugs. The process has long been a bone of contention between Washington and allies like Mexico, who find it insulting. Certification was one of the topics discussed during a five-hour meeting between President Bush and Mexican President Vicente Fox at the Mexican leader's San Cristobal ranch last week. At the time, Bush acknowledged that the system, which can lead to the imposition of trade sanctions against nations that don't cooperate, is in need of review. "I believe there is a movement in the country to review all the certification process," Bush told reporters after the talks. "I'm certainly going to take the message back to the members of Congress that I firmly believe that President Fox will do everything in his power to root out the drug lords and to halt drug trafficking as best as he possibly can." Aides say Bush feels comfortable ending the certification process in part because of the esteem in which he holds Fox. Past administrations have been wary about giving Mexico and other Latin American countries a free hand because of fears about official corruption within the ranks of law enforcement. But Bush said last week that he trusts the Mexican leader and feels sure that the Fox government will do what it can to waylay the drug trade. Speaking last Saturday in his weekly radio address, Fox expressed confidence that the U.S. government will kill certification and replace it with a joint, cooperative approach involving officials at the highest levels. Fox said he and Bush agreed to develop a cross-border program, to be reviewed twice a year, by both countries. Bush laid a great deal of the responsibility for controlling drug trafficking at the feet of the United States. "The main reason why drugs are shipped through Mexico to the United States is because United States citizens use drugs," Bush said. "And our nation must do a better job of educating our citizenry about the dangers and evils of drug use." - --- MAP posted-by: Doc-Hawk